PUBLIC POLICY: Coalition Reviews and Plans
In December 2005, the annual meeting of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), www.c-c-d.org, was held in Washington, DC. United Spinal Association is a CCD member organization, and John P. Herrion, counsel, and Daniel J. Anderson, legislative director, represented us at this event. Established in 1973, CCD is a coalition of approximately 100 national disability groups working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration, and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. The work of this coalition is undertaken by 16 task forces, organized by issue.
A significant 2005 accomplishment was the re-authorization of the federal transportation law. CCD advocated for the House rather than the Senate bill because the House version included a free-standing “New Freedom” program, while the Senate merged New Freedom with an existing section of law. The New Freedom measure provides funding for local transportation services for persons with disabilities which go beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. It was essentially the House New Freedom language, advocated by CCD and United Spinal, that became the law of the land.
It appears that health issues, such as preventing the continued assault on Medicaid and Medicare services, could take center stage this year at the CCD.
